The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-19

Thcy buried her, in obedience to her last
wishes, there IN The churchyard where lay
generation upon generation OF her ancient
race, and the daisies grew above her head.
Twice had they bloomed over her before Sir
Erpest Kershaw stood by the spot, hnllowed
by the presence Of what had held the spirit Of
the woman he had loved
He was grizzled man Of nearly so now,
nor were streaks Of gray wanting In Dorothy's
hair, as they stood that summer evening by
Eva's grave Many things had happened to
the pair since Mr.. Cardus' tragic death.
They had had children--somc they had lost,
some remained-honest English lads and
lasses, with their fathers eyes. They had
enjoyed great wealth, and spent II royalty,
giving with both hands TO all who needed.
They had drunk deep Of the cup Of this
worlds Joys and sorrows. Ernest had gone
into parliament, and made something OF a
name there. Then, impatient for the active
life OF earlier days, he had accepted a high
colonial appointment, for which, notwith-
standing his blindness, his wealth and parlia-
mentary reputation eminently fitted him.
Now he had just returned from filling the
governorship Of one Of the Australian
colonies
"Notq quite cured yet, Ernestr said Dorothy,
interrogatively.
eyes, Dorothy" he answered with little
sigh. II think am cured. At any rate" he
went on, as she took his hand TO lead him
away from the grave, II have learned to ac-
cept the DEGREES of Providence without muir
muring have done with dreams, and out
lived pessimism. Life would, it is true, have
been different thing for me IL poor Eva had
not deserted me, for she poisoned its waters
at the fount, and so they have always tasted
rather bitter. But happiness is not the end
and object Of mans existence, aud IL could
do not think l would undo the past Take
me to the old fiat tombstone, Dolly, near the
door"
She led him TO IL, and he sat down.
"Ah,n he went on, show beautiful she was
Was there ever woman like her, wonderl
And now her bones lie there her beanty is
all gone, and there live of her only the unend-
ing issues of what she did 1 have only to
think, Dolly, and l can see her as | saw her a
score of times passing in and out of this
church door. Yes, l can sec her, and the
people round her, and the clothes she wore,
and the smile In her beautiful dark eyes-for
her eyes seemed TO smile, you remember,
Dolly. How / worshped her, too, with all
my heart and soul and strength, as though
she were an angell and that was my mistake,
Dolly. She was only a woman-a weak
woman"
@You said just now that you were cured,
Ernest; one would hardly think it to hear
you talk" put in Dorothy, smiling.
"Yes, Doll, am cured you have cured me,
my dear wife, for you have crept into my
life and taken possession of It, so that there
is little room for anybody else, and now, Do
rothy, love you with all my heart"
She pressed his hand and smiled again, for
she knew that she had triumphed, and that
he did love her, truly love her, and that his
passion for Eva was poor thing compared
to what it had been twenty years before
more indeed of tender regret, not un-
mingled with q starry hope, than passion at
all. Dorothy was clever little person, and
understood something of Ernest and the
human heart in general. She had thought
| long ago that she would win Ernest altogether
to her in the end By what tenderness by
| what devotion and nobility OF character she
| accomplished this the reader who knows her
can well imagine, but in the end she did ac-
| conplish it, as she deserved to. The contrast
between the conduct of the two women who
| had mainly influenced his life was too marked
| for Ernest, a man of IA just and reasonable
| mind to altogether ignore, and when once he
| came to comparisons the natural results fol-
| lowed And yet, though he learned to love
| Dorothy so dearly, it cannot be said that he
forgot Eva, because there are some things
| that man can never forget, since they are a
part of his inner life, and of these first love
is unfortunately one.
"Ernest" went on Dorothy, "you remem-
Der what you toid me when you asked me to
marry you in Titheburg Abbey, about your
belief that your affection for Eva would out
last the world, and find a continued expires
sion in the lives to come Do you still be
lieve thatm
"Yes, Doll, to great extent"
His wife sat and thought for a minute.
ernest" she said, presently.
"Yes," dear.
| II have managed to bold my own agains
| Eva in this world, when she had all tn
chances and all the beauty on her side, ant
what have to say about your theories nov
is, that when we get to the next, and are oil
beautiful, it will be very strange if | dom
manage to hold it there. She had her chapc
and she threw it away; now have got min
and don't mean to throw it away, either Il
this world or the next"
Ernest laughed little. 81 must say, m
dear, it would be very poor heaven if yo
were not there
II should think SO indeed Those whor
God hath joined together let no man pu
asunder, or woman either. But what is th
good Of our stopping here to talk such stu
about things of which we really understan
nothingl Come, Ernest, Jeremy and th
boys will be waiting for u.s."
And so hand in hand they went on hom
ward through the quiet twilight.
1.-THE END,l